Drake Axis LTD bindings (snowboard related)

[wookalar]

Got these about 3 weeks ago

Upon first impression, I was very impressed with the changes in snowboard binding adjustability. You can adjust these at the contact point like any other binding. But they also have a firm rubber "plate" that covers the binding screws that adjusts forward and backward. You can see the screw and and the range of the motion near the heel in the picture. The theory reads that more forward gives more edge to to toe side (ideal for icy conditions) and backward puts the weight more even, better for powder. Further, there is an arch running legnthwise on the binding, with a screw that can compress or release the arch (tighter for ice, more loose for powder). You can see the screw in the middle of the yellow arch in the pic.

I like the changes. Much as I was amazed that pizza hut found a location for more cheese on a pie with the stuffed crust pizza, I had come to believe strap bindings had more or less come as far as they could go.

My only complaint, and I'm looking for similar experiences here, is that there's almost too much adjustablity here. I'm sure once I find the sweet spot, I'll be sold on these bindings, but so far I've felt a bit out of sorts on them. I'm trying a new setup tomorrow, so we'll see if I've struck gold.

Anyone else got some experience with these things? Am I asking if there's really a difference in something that's pretty miniscule? I've tried 2 setups so far, the third being tomorrow. They've all felt different, but not really "good" yet.

[wookalar]

well, if anyone's curious...I really ratcheted them down and set them in the hard snow position, and it did seem to make a difference. I also ducked my rear foot stance out more than usual. I normally ride 12 front -3 back, but cranked the rear to -9 and it felt a lot more in control.

[Darkside]

well, if anyone's curious...I really ratcheted them down and set them in the hard snow position, and it did seem to make a difference. I also ducked my rear foot stance out more than usual. I normally ride 12 front -3 back, but cranked the rear to -9 and it felt a lot more in control.

Our rep spoke pretty well of these, and I'm interested because we do have a few pair in stock. I'll have to look at them next time I'm in the shop, but how do you put it in the "hard snow" position? I only knew about the stiffness adjustment.

[wookalar]

According to the instructions, moving the plate that covers the binding contact point forward or backwards adjusts somewhat for ice and powder accordingly. From looking at it, I guess the theory is that more area to lean on on the toe edge gives a harder response, while moving back takes some of your toe off the edge and makes it more groovy for powder.

I hesitate to say that these minor adjustments make major differences, but when I had the plate in a more neutral, even set back position it did feel like the back end of the board washed out more often on the hardpack.

[wookalar]

another change...yet to be tested, but hopefully tomorrow....

I jong myself for just figuring out that the baseplate will move in any direction. On all my previous bindings, the baseplate has been one solid piece. On these, it is 2 pieces tightened by a center screw. When you loosen it, you can move the binding itself about a centimeter forward, backward, sideways by moving the 2 plates. Then you tighten the screw down.

My heels felt pretty slippery this weekend, and I think this will move some of that weight back nicely.

[wookalar]

I finally hit the winning combination...12 front, minus 6 back, with the back binding further back than I usually go. Mounted almost middle for the footplate, perhaps a bit forward. With a foot plus on the ground at vail friday and saturday, this board really came alive. Perhaps some of my problems can be attributed to just riding crummy icy manmade snow for the most part to this point. With new snow, I don't know that I've ridden a board that felt so edgeable and yet stable at speed. A 156 ain't that big, but I took some ear pinning straight lines this weekend over variable snow and this board felt anchored and stable.

Here is a copy of my correspondence with Salomon sports online. Needless to say, I was disappointed with their form letter responses...I was hoping for somone with some real insight.





Robert,

The Forecast ERA is not designed to be as stiff as your Daniel Frank. The
boards are for two different purposes. The Daniel Frank is a park board
designed for low speed turns and low speed stability. The Forecast ERA is
an all mountain board designed to go from the pipe to the steep and deep.
The ERA technology is designed to give you the best of both worlds. With
the single waist spine the Forecast is a very maneuverable board especially
at low speed. It is easy to flex from toe to heal yet staying stiff from
tip to end. The DB ERA sounds like the board you were going for. It has a
freestyle specific flex and shaping.

Salomon US Info


-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Gowder [mailto:xxx@hotmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2004 4:08 PM
To: us_info@Salomon-sports.com
Subject: RE: FW: Question from the website: Snowboard products

I got the 156. It's definatley the right size. I've been riding for more
than a decade, with 4 yrs spent in Tahoe City and currently working on 4 in
Denver. Not to get all super heady about it, just letting you know this
isn't a rookie mistake. My last 3 boards were 155, 153 (the salomon Daniel
Franck pro model) and a 155.

I like the stiffness, it's just that the board doesn't feel as stable as any

of my previous ones at lower speeds. The tail end seems to wash out a lot.
Not sure if I'm describing this well, but that's the best I can think of.

To be honest, I expected this board, as stiff as it is, to be rock solid
when edging, and it hasn't seemed to be. In the thread below that I posted
on tgr's website, a lot of the replies suggested that it may take more
"muscling" than I am used to using at lower speeds. Perhaps this is true.
I've just been a little disappointed that after 8 days on this board this
season, I wasn't immediatley in love with it. I like it, but for such a high

end product I'm somewhat concerned.

Thanks,
Robert

From: Salomon US Info <us_info@Salomon-sports.com>
To: "'xxx@hotmail.com'" <xxx@hotmail.com>
Subject: FW: Question from the website: Snowboard products
Date: Thu, 2 Dec 2004 08:23:36 -0800



--


What size Forecast did you get? Did you get the right size? The idea
behind the rubber pads is that they allow a flat surface for the bindings to
sit on because of the E.R.A.s different core profile. These pads are rubber
which will also cut down on some of the vibration coming through the board.

The idea behind the core is that the board is stiff longitudinally and
somewhat more forgiving torsionally. From my experience this board does
ride very good and I have never had any problems with my heel edge turns
slipping out. Anybody from a beginner to an experience rider can enjoy this
board making it very versatile.







-----Original Message-----
From: robet [mailto:xxx@hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, November 29, 2004 11:56 PM
To: Contact U.S.
Subject: Question from the website: Snowboard products


I have some questions about your forecast era snowboard. I bought one this
fall. I'm cutting and pasting a post I put on teton gravity research's
message board on the subject, easier than typing it again. Could someone
contact me regarding this? Thanks.

I put this on the tech talk board, but haven't had much luck with snowboard
responses there. Hope nobody minds posting it here.....


bought this board this fall, ridden it 8 times this season.

I was really looking forward to this board...to this day, my favorite was a
Salomon Daniel Franck I had 4 yrs ago. So it was with great anticipation
that I bought this Salomon.

Here's the rub...notice the rubber pads on the edges. It may look like
topsheet, but those areas on either side of the binding screw are actually
rubber pads...the board falls away steeply around the exaggerated X desgin
you can see in the middle. The theory is that these allow more contact
points between the binding and board. I'm not convinced. It feels awkward
going edge to edge, not solid like a new board should. I'm no pro, but I've
been at it for 12 years and feel like I can hold my own. I notice it most
often on my heel edge, it feels like it washes out all the time.

Now...to be honest...when hauling ass, this board is pretty sharp. If I'm
really moving, it rides very well, very stable. But I don't haul ass all the
time (jong!). In fact, I usually d!ck around on most terrain and go
relatively slow.

To further jong myself, bear with me here, if I exaggerate my turns the
board is very responsive again. I hope you can understand what I mean here -
the guy riding down throwing a turn every 2 seconds, knees very bent, your
standard gorilla steez Am I just not putting enough effort into this board?
I am still an average skier, but is this similar to suddenly plopping onto a
pair of pro skis, a la bro models (yea!)?

I'm calling salomon tomorrow to ask them, see if they've heard similar
compaints or even a fix. I'm seriously considering taking it back and
getting something else depending on their answers.

Any experiences with this board? I'm assuming the engineers at salomon know
a whole lot more than me. I'm also thinking that I'm not riding it hard
enough. Thanks for the help....